52 Tak Wah Mak
Dr. Tak Wah Mak |
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Time period:1946 – present Subject:Cells, Genetics & Genomics, Infectious Disease, Allergy & Immunity, Cancer |
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Biography:Dr. Tak Wah Mak was born in 1946 in Southern China and was raised in Hong Kong. He went on to study biochemistry and biophysics at the University of Wisconsin, obtaining his Master of Science (MSc) in 1969. He continued his education at the University of Alberta, earning his Ph.D. in Biochemistry in 1973. Afterwards, he moved to Toronto where he became a Canadian citizen and has been a Medical Biophysics and Immunology professor at the University of Toronto since 1984. Throughout his career, Dr. Tak Wah Mak has received numerous awards and honours for his outstanding contributions to science and medicine. These include the Gairdner Foundation International Award, the Kyoto Prize in Basic Science, the National Cancer Institute of Canada’s Diamond Jubilee Award, and his inclusion into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame. As of March 2023, Dr. Mak was awarded the Pezcoller Foundation-American Association for Cancer Research International Award for Extraordinary Achievement in Cancer Research. Even at the age of 76, he has no plans to retire. |
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Summary of their contributions:Dr. Mak is renowned for his groundbreaking work in immunology and cancer research. One of his most significant contributions came in 1984 when he and his research team identified the structure of the T-cell receptor for antigens, positioning him as the third most cited scientist globally, with his paper garnering nearly 1,200 citations in other scientific studies. Until this discovery, how the antigen receptor worked remained unclear. However, Dr. Mak’s research revealed that T cells utilize an entirely distinct set of genes for antigen recognition; while the T cell receptor for antigens shared a design similarity with antibodies, its genetic origin and sequence were entirely different. In 1993, Dr. Mak received support to establish the AMGEN Research Institute. This institute went on to produce many studies which have been cited over 40,000 times and has also produced 20 new molecular discoveries that are used in drug development. In addition to his work on TCR, Dr. Tak Wah Mak has been involved in numerous studies related to cancer, including the development of genetically modified mice to study the molecular mechanisms of cancer development. His research has greatly contributed to the understanding of cancer biology and has paved the way for the development of new therapeutic approaches. |
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Integration with the BC Secondary Science Curriculum:Dr. Tak Wah Mak’s work in immunology and cancer research can be relevant to various aspects of the BC curriculum, particularly in the areas of science and health such as the Grade 8 Immune System unit, or in the Anatomy and Physiology 12 curriculum. As his biggest contribution is on the discovery of the T-cell receptor genes, one can fit his work into the lesson about T-cells and antigens, noting how Dr. Mak was able to uncover the mechanism behind how T-cells were able to identify antigens, something that was previously unknown. In terms of the Grade 12 Anatomy and Physiology curriculum, his discovery fits well into how genes are responsible for proteins and the function of cells. With curricular competencies in mind, Dr. Mak’s work builds upon aspects including but not limited to:
Considering the role of scientists in innovation |
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References:Roy, B. (n.d.). Dr. Tak Wah Mak. Canadian Immigrant. https://canadianimmigrant.ca/canadas-top-25-immigrants/canadas-top-25-immigrants-2015/tak-wah-mak Tak Mak. Medical Biophysics. (n.d.). https://medbio.utoronto.ca/faculty/mak Tak Wah Mak, Phd. CMHF. (n.d.). https://www.cdnmedhall.ca/laureates/takmak |
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